Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-08-11
National Capitol Letter.
WAsnINaroN, ID. 81, August 5, 1s8I


WASHINGTON, ID. c., August 8. 1887
Editor Herald: Seldom indeed hai
the National Capital presented SO de-
serted an appearance as at the present
time. The extremely warm weather
which has prevailed Of late has had th,
effect of driving away every one who
has not been detained either by the
urgent demands of business, or oficia
duties. Mrs. Cleveland, accompanied
by her mother, left the city early in the
week, and will probably spend several
weeks visiting friends in Massachusetts
The President spends most of the time
at his country residence, only returning
to the White House when his presence
has been necessary in attending to urg
emit business which could not be trans
acted during his absence.
The scene presented to the casual
visitor to the National Museum jus
now, is in striking contrast to the IN
activity elsewhere displayed. When
the enormous Museum building was
erected few years since, there were
not few people who gave it as their
opinion that Congress had done q very
foolish thing in providing for the con.
struction of so extensive building the
space within which could by no posi-
bilty be filled with exhibits, during the
present generation at least. Notwish-
standing these predictions, however
Prof. Baird aud his able corps of assist
ants, have continued their untiring
efforts 20 make each department OF the
museuai complete. Exhibits have con-
tinucd to arrive from all quarters OF The
world until the present capacity OF the
museum building has been passed, aud
Congress has been called upon to pro-
vide additional accommodations.
The various exploring parties that
have been sent out by Prof. Baird in
search of attractions for the museum.
have been far more successful Than had
been anticipated. and their researches
have 10 many instances resulted in dis
coyeries which have added materially
10 the knowledge heretofore possessed
with reference to the races of both ami
NAL aud vegetable life, which have long
ceased to exist Several OF these ex-
ploring parties are in the field at the
present time, the last of which, under
the direction of Prof. Lucas, the Osteo-
logist, started out few weeks since
with the soleview of securing the bones
of the great aux, which formally in
habited the extreme northern ATTITUDES.
The party is fitted for a long sojourn in
the Artic region and expect to thorough
ly canvas the northern coast of Green
land before their return
An ice famine, with the mercury
above 80 degrees, is not pleasant to con-
template, but it is an experience which
Washington has very narrowly escaped.
The bulk of the ice supply of Washing
ton is brought from the kennebec river
in Maine. 1t is the practice of the
owners Of vessels engaged in the ice
trade. TO carry upon their return trip a
cargo of coal, but owing TO the inability
Of the ice men to make satisfactory
arrangements with the coal companies,
they have been unable to secure return
cargoes. and they have in consequence
refused to go to Maine for ice unless
the ice companies would pay them
double rates. During the early part OF
the week the ice supply on hand became
very nearly exhausted. is understood
however that the difficulty with the coal
companies has been adjusted, an
abundant supply of ice is expected to
arrive very soon. H.